Child portable potty seat caddy

ABSTRACT

My invention is a caddy to enable a child to discreetly and sanitarily store, retrieve for use, and conveniently carry a child&#39;s potty seat, comprising a rectangular receptacle, with interior angled ledges to keep the seat out of the drip tray and to secure the seat when not in use, a detachable bottom portion for ease of cleaning, a snugly fitted, removable top for access to the seat, a handle for carrying and at least one fastening device on the back for attachment to walls, toilet flush tank or bathtub surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCES

I claim priority to the provisional application filed Feb. 23, 2011, which bears No. 61/463,795.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

None.

REFERENCE TO “SEQUENCE LISTING”

None.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Any adult responsible for toddlers, is burdened with providing proper toilet training. To ease the burden, make the training pleasant and instructive, and encourage the toddler to become independent, my invention teaches the design of a toddler's toilet seat caddy.

The invention stores the toddler's toilet seat in a discreet and sanitary environment and preserves the seat free from dust and dirt when maintained in the bathroom or during transit. The potty seat caddy facilitates modesty in storing and easy handling of the toilet seat which may have come in contact with urine and feces.

As discussed below, others have invented a toddler's toilet seat, a device for storing a child's potty seat, and even a case for carrying the toilet seat and other components. However, none have designed an enclosed caddy which can be used for both convenient and sanitary storage and transportation of the child's potty seat. It is easy and light-weight enough for a child to carry. The goal is to promote the independence of the toddler in performing his or her ablutions.

Only my invention can be accessed by the toddler at home and also carried by the toddler while traveling away from his or her home. For instance, Coley, et al., Publication No. U.S. 2009/0212179A1 claims an open apparatus for storing a child's potty seat. That apparatus lacks carrying devices to make it child portable and its open design exposes the seat to dirt, dust, germs and pets, etc. It is not a discreet means of storage. By contrast, my invention teaches an enclosed caddy for sanitation and discretion purposes, and includes a removable bottom for access and easy cleaning.

Similarly, Potts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,584, concedes that it is far too complicated a design to permit a toddler to use it unassisted. By contrast, my invention allows the toddler to access his or her own toilet seat with which he or she is intimately familiar, place it on the existing toilet, retrieve it when ablutions are concluded, and even carry the seat during travels with an adult.

The existing art also reveals travel potty chairs, for instance http://www.frugalmom.net/Pottytrainingsolutions/Potty-Chairs—Toilet-Seats.html, discloses that portable toilets for toddlers are available. The disadvantage of that disclosed design is that the parent or adult accompanying the child must then dispose of the waste. My invention allows the child the freedom to use his or her own toilet seat on an existing toilet with a flush mechanism for waste disposal. My invention fosters independence.

My invention is new and novel because it includes two angled ledges which are designed to suspend the child's toilet seat above the bottom of the caddy so the potty seat does not sit in the drip tray itself. Below the angled ledges is a drip tray which can be removed for cleaning. The caddy can have a removable mesh cover. The mesh cover is attached to the caddy by snaps, snap fasteners, loop fasteners, magnets or Velcro™. The caddy also has a compartment for the placement of other toiletry items such as sanitation wipes. The caddy has a handle for carrying. The caddy can be hung on a wall with hooks or attached to a surface with suction cups, or hung by the handle over the back of a door or the bathtub. The caddy is also freestanding. One instructed in the art will appreciate that there are other ways to removably secure the device to a surface, including hooks, straps, snap fasteners, screws, nails and/or hangers, without departing from the basic invention.

In the preferred embodiment, the enclosed potty seat holder has interior angled ledges to secure the seat during storage or transportation, a mechanism for detaching the bottom for cleaning, a top which is snugly fitted for purposes of additional security during travel, and at least one suction cup for removably securing the device to a surface such as the toilet's flush tank, bathtub or wall. The connection for the bottom portion can comprise alternatively, tongue and groove, recessed ridges with flaps for thumb access, or sealable edges to allow easy opening, but which snap snugly closed.

The lightweight design is easy enough for a child to use and induces potty training independence for toddlers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

My invention is a caddy for storing and carrying a toddler's toilet seat. The object is to store a child's potty seat in a more sanitary environment and for ease of use by a toddler to remove the potty seat from the caddy, place it on an existing toilet, and then remove the potty seat when ablutions have been completed, returning the potty seat to the caddy for storage or carrying. The seat is capable of being transported by a child.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a planar view of the top of the invention. Carrying case sides enclose the caddy, at No. 1. The mesh cover is at No. 2. The handle is depicted at No. 3. The front pouch is at No. 4, and the closing mechanism for the mesh cover is at No. 5.

FIG. 2 is a planar view of the side of the caddy. A side wall is at No. 6. A concealed, side view of the angled ledge to secure the potty seat is at No. 8. The detachable bottom portion is at No. 9.

FIG. 3 is a planar view of the back of the caddy. The location for snaps to secure the mesh cover are at No. 10. A representative hole on the back for mounting the caddy is at No. 11. The placement of suction cups as an alternative for mounting the caddy is at No. 12.

FIG. 4 is an isometric and preferred view of the caddy. The potty seat is depicted by dotted lines. The positioning of the angled ledges is shown by No. 13. The tongue and groove mechanism for securing the bottom portion is at No. 14 and No. 17. The feet which are for purposes of support and/or additional stability are at No. 15. The bottom portion is detached.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view with the bottom portion secured. No. 16 is a thumb flap for removing a press fitted bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a portable receptacle for storing and carrying a toddler's toilet seat. The seat fits inside of the invention. The purpose is to keep the seat in a sanitary environment when not in use; off the floor, out of the bathtub or sink, and away from other contaminants. The invention is used for the safe and convenient handling, storage and transportation of the seat when it is not in use. It enables a child to access the seat, replace it after use, and then carry the seat during travels with an adult.

The advantages of the invention are that it preserves the toddler toilet seat free from collecting dirt and dust when maintained in the bathroom or during transit. And, the invention facilitates the handling of a seat that may have had contact with urine and feces.

The caddy can be constructed of plastic, treated with anti-microbial and anti-bacterial agents to limit the spread of germs, mildew and contaminants. The reasons for using plastic construction are to ease cleaning of the toddler toilet seat and its environment, to lighten the carrying burden, and to foster easy wall hanging or storage.

The inside of the caddy has two angled ledges at No. 13, which suspend the potty seat above the bottom of the caddy, keeping it away from urine and feces, which may drip into the detachable tray. Below the angled ledges is a detachable tray at No. 9, which can be removed during cleaning. In another embodiment, there is a pouch or compartment affixed onto the device at No. 4, for placement of other toiletry items, such as sanitation wipes. The top can be constructed of mesh at No. 2, or alternatively, the same material as the sides and bottom portion. In the embodiment where the top is constructed of the same material as the sides and bottom portion, the top is press fitted into the sides. In an additional embodiment, the invention can also have a mesh cover at No. 2, which is partially open to the air and affixed by snaps, magnets, loops, loop fasteners or Velcro™ at No. 5. The mesh cover fully covers the open top. Any pouch or compartment can also be located outside of the mesh cover.

The connection for the bottom portion can comprise alternatively, tongue and groove at Nos. 14 and 17, recessed ridges with flaps for thumb access, or sealable edges to allow easy opening but which snap snugly closed. Wall hooks can be inserted in the holes on the back of the caddy at No. 11, or suction cups at No. 12, can be attached to the back or cover of the caddy. The caddy can also be freestanding. Animal caricature feet at No. 15, can provide additional stability. The top has a convenient handle at No. 3, for carrying the caddy or hanging it on the back of a bathroom door or stall. A person knowledgeable in the art will be aware that there are other ways to removably secure the device to a surface, including hooks, straps, snap fasteners, screws, nails and/or hangers, without departing from the basic invention.

It is widely known that a standard toilet seat is too large to accommodate a toddler's smaller buttock. Portable toddler toilet seats are available to address this problem for use both in the home and during transportation of the toddler. Since toddlers typically travel with an adult and may need to use the bathroom during transportation, the Child Portable Potty Seat Caddy provides an efficient and safe method for carrying the toddler's toilet seat. When not traveling, the invention provides discreet storage of the seat so that adults can use the toilet. 

1. A caddy for storing and carrying a child's toilet seat comprising: a rectangular receptacle with four connected walls, front, back and two sides, of sufficient dimensions to fully enclose a child's toilet seat, having a removable bottom portion, a detachable top, and an interior with angled ledges to suspend the toilet seat above the bottom portion.
 2. The device as in claim 1 including a detachable mesh cover.
 3. The device as in claim 2, further including a handle on the top of the caddy.
 4. The device as in claim 1 or 2, further including at least one hole on the back for mounting the caddy.
 5. The device as in claim 1 or 2, further including at least one suction cup on the back for mounting the caddy.
 6. The device as in claim 1 or 2, further including at least one hook on the back for mounting the caddy.
 7. The device as in claim 1 or 2, further including a pouch or compartment.
 8. The device as in claim 1 or 2, further including at least two support stabilizers or feet. 